Georgia bidding big for Smart

TUSCALOOSA - In the aftermath of Alabama's national
championship, Georgia has redoubled its efforts to snag the
Crimson Tide's defensive coordinator.

Kirby Smart, this season's Broyles Award winner as the
nation's top assistant, is considering a lucrative
offer to take over the defense at his alma mater. Multiple
sources told The Times that Georgia could be willing to
double Smart's $360,000 base salary at Alabama.

Smart, 34, may not be the only Alabama assistant in play for
other jobs.

Speculation was that former Auburn coach Tommy Tuberville
may be interested in bringing former Auburn assistant and
current Alabama inside linebackers coach James Willis onto
his new staff at Texas Tech. An industry source said he did
not think the Willis move would happen.

Sources have maintained for the duration of Georgia's
search that Smart and his family are happy at Alabama and
aren't pursing a move back to Athens.

Georgia had at least informally gauged Smart's interest
about the current opening prior to the past two days, though
the Bulldogs' latest effort is thought to entail
significantly more money. Earlier attempts were rebuffed as
the Crimson Tide prepared to play Texas, through Smart was
at least willing to listen to a formal offer after the game.

Smart said before the BCS title game that he had not
received a formal offer from Georgia coach Mark Richt but
that "It's been great having these players and
doing this (at Alabama), and I'm looking forward to it
next year."

"My lifelong goal was to ultimately be a defensive coordinator," Smart said last week in California, "and if I ever got a chance at a head job, that would be great. But that's not something that I'm going to draw my career and say I was a failure, I didn't get to be a head coach or whatever. I'd be completely content with that. If a better opportunity presents itself, then obviously that's something down the road. But young as I am, I'm happy to be where I'm at and happy to be at the University of Alabama."...